Coal fires exist in almost every coal-producing country and generate huge amounts of heat energy every year. In this paper, forced convective heat-extraction is presented as a method to exploit the potential heat in coal fire zones as an energy resource. A geological model of coal fire zones and a combustion model for underground coal in an O2-depleted atmosphere are established. The borehole layouts, the heat transfer medium (HTM) injection rates, and the cooling effect of the HTM on the coal and rock are analyzed using a three-dimensional (3D) simulation software (fluent). The results show that a borehole layout of multihole injection and oriented type proves to be suitable for coal fire zones. The simulation predicts that the temperature of the extracted HTM and the rate of heat extraction decrease as extraction time increases. The simulation further predicts that the temperature of the extracted HTM can be increased by reducing the rate at which the HTM injected. Additionally, the heat-extraction rate is more stable for relatively low HTM injection rates. The temperature of the coal fire zones can be reduced effectively by using forced convective heat-extraction, with the maximum temperature of the coal fire zones and the average temperature in the residual coal zone being cubic and quadratic function relationship of the heat-extraction time, respectively. This research provides a reference for waste-energy exploitation in coal fire areas.
References
1.
Zhang
, J.
, 2008
, Underground Coal Fires in China: Origin, Detection, Fire-Fighting and Prevention
, China Coal Industry Publishing House
, Beijing, China
.2.
Stracher
, G. B.
, and Taylor
, T. P.
, 2004
, “Coal Fires Burning out of Control Around the World: Thermodynamic Recipe for Environmental Catastrophe
,” Int. J. Coal Geology
, 59
(1–2
), pp. 7
–17
.3.
Kuenzer
, C.
, Zhang
, J.
, Sun
, Y.
, Jia
, Y.
, and Dech
, S.
, 2012
, “Coal Fires Revisited: The Wuda Coal Field in the Aftermath of Extensive Coal Fire Research and Accelerating Extinguishing Activities
,” Int. J. Coal Geology
, 102
, pp. 75
–86
.4.
Xinjiang Coal Design Research Institute LTD Company
, 2015
, Management Plans for Coal Fires in Xinjiang
, Xinjiang Coal Design Research Institute Ltd. Company
, Xinjiang, China
.5.
Shi
, B.
, Su
, H.
, Li
, J.
, Qi
, H.
, Zhou
, F.
, Torero
, J. L.
, and Chen
, Z.
, 2017
, “Clean Power Generation From the Intractable Natural Coalfield Fires: Turn Harm Into Benefit
,” Sci. Rep.
, 7
(1
), p. 5302
.6.
Colaizzi
, G. J.
, 2004
, “Prevention, Control and/or Extinguishment of Coal Seam Fires Using Cellular Grout
,” Int. J. Coal Geology
, 59
(1–2
), pp. 75
–81
.7.
Qi
, D.
, 2005
, “The Coal Fire Disaster and Its Control Method in Xinjiang
,” China Coal
, 31
(6
), pp. 34
–36
.8.
O'Keefe
, J. M. K.
, Neace
, E. R.
, Lemley
, E. W.
, Hower
, J. C.
, Henke
, K. R.
, Copley
, G.
, Hatch
, R. S.
, Satterwhite
, A. B.
, and Blake
, D. R.
, 2011
, “Old Smokey Coal Fire, Floyd County, Kentucky: Estimates of Gaseous Emission Rates
,” Int. J. Coal Geol.
, 87
(2), pp. 150
–156
.9.
Ide
, T. S.
, Pollard
, D.
, and Orr
, F. M.
, 2010
, “Fissure Formation and Subsurface Subsidence in a Coalbed Fire
,” Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci.
, 47
(1
), pp. 81
–93
.10.
Zhou
, L.
, Zhang
, D.
, Wang
, J.
, Huang
, Z.
, and Pan
, D.
, 2013
, “Mapping Land Subsidence Related to Underground Coal Fires in the Wuda Coalfield (Northern China) Using a Small Stack of ALOS PALSAR Differential Interferograms
,” Remote Sens.
, 5
(12
), pp. 1152
–1176
.11.
Liang
, Y.
, Liang
, H.
, and Zhu
, S.
, 2014
, “Mercury Emission From Coal Seam Fire at Wuda, Inner Mongolia, China
,” Atmos. Environ.
, 83
, pp. 176
–184
.12.
Qi
, X.
, Wang
, D.
, Xin
, H.
, and Zhong
, X.
, 2013
, “Environmental Hazards of Coal Fire and Their Prevention in China
,” Environ. Eng. Manage. J.
, 12
(10
), pp. 1915
–1919
.13.
Rai
, S.
, Prakash
, A.
, Ghosh
, A. K.
, and Aroan
, S.
, 2013
, “Causes of Subsidence Potentiality Above Old Abandoned Underground Coal Mines Workings at Karharbari Formation, Giridih, Jharkhand
,” J. Mines, Met. Fuels
, 61
(1–2
), pp. 37
–42
.14.
Chiasson
, A. D.
, Yavuzturk
, C.
, and Walrath
, D. E.
, 2007
, “Evaluation of Electricity Generation From Underground Coal Fires and Waste Banks
,” ASME J. Energy Resour. Technol.
, 129
(2
), pp. 81
–88
.15.
Schmidt
, M.
, Suhendra
, S.
, and Rüter
, H.
, 2010
, “Heat Pipes-Suitable for Extinguishing Underground Coal Fires
?,” Latest Developments in Coal Fire Research-Bridging the Science, Economics, and Politics of a Global Disaster
, C.
Drebenstedt
, C.
Fischer
, U.
Meyer
, J.
Wu
, and B.
Kong
, eds., TU Bergakademie Freiberg
, Berlin
, pp. 433
–437
.16.
Kürten
, S.
, Feinendegen
, M.
, and Noel
, Y.
, 2015
, “Geothermal Utilization of Smoldering Mining Dumps
,” Coal and Peat Fires: A Global Perspective
(Case Studies-Coal Fires, Vol. 3), G. B.
Stracher
, A.
Prakash
, and E. V.
Sokol
, eds., Elsevier
, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
, pp. 241
–261
.17.
Deng
, J.
, Li
, B.
, and Ma
, L.
, 2015
, “Influence of Heat Pipe on Temperature Distribution in Coal Storage Pile
,” China Saf. Sci. J.
, 25
(6
), pp. 62
–67
.18.
Cao
, D.
, Fan
, X.
, Wu
, C.
, and Wang
, G.
, 2009
, “Study on the Fractures Related With Coalfield Fire Area in Wuda Coalfield, Inner Mongolia
,” J. China Coal Soc.
, 34
(8
), pp. 1009
–1014
.19.
Chen
, Y.
, Wu
, X.
, and Zhang
, F.
, 1999
, “Experimental Investigations on Thermal Cracking of Stones
,” Chin. Sci. Bull.
, 4
(8
), pp. 880
–883
.20.
Du
, S.
, Liu
, H.
, Zhi
, H.
, and Chen
, H.
, 2004
, “Testing Study on Mechanical Properties of Post-High-Temperature Granite
,” Chin. J. Rock Mech. Eng.
, 23
(14
), pp. 2359
–2364
.21.
Zhang
, L.
, Mao
, X.
, and Lu
, A.
, 2009
, “Experimental Study on the Mechanical Properties of Rocks at High Temperature
,” Sci. China, Ser. E: Technological Sci.
, 52
(3
), pp. 641
–646
.22.
Zhong
, X.
, Tang
, Y.
, and Tian
, X.
, 2016
, “Heat Extraction and Conversion in Large Coalfield Fire Areas
,” Saf. Coal Mines
, 47
(10
), pp. 161
–164
.23.
Palchik
, V.
, 2003
, “Formation of Fractured Zones in Overburden Due to Longwall Mining
,” Environ. Geol.
, 44
, pp. 28
–38
.24.
Wessling
, S.
, Kessels
, W.
, Schmidt
, M.
, and Krause
, U.
, 2008
, “Investigating Dynamic Underground Coal Fires by Means of Numerical Simulation
,” Geophys. J. Int.
, 172
(1
), pp. 439
–454
.25.
Li
, B.
, Chen
, G.
, Zhang
, H.
, and Sheng
, C.
, 2014
, “Development of Non-Isothermal TGA-DSC for Kinetics Analysis of Low Temperature Coal Oxidation Prior to Ignition
,” Fuel
, 118
, pp. 385
–391
.26.
Coats
, A. W.
, and Redfern
, J. P.
, 1964
, “Kinetic Parameters From Thermogravimetric Data
,” Nature
, 201
(4914
), pp. 68
–69
.27.
Liu
, M. X.
, Shi
, G. Q.
, Guo
, Z.
, Wang
, Y. M.
, and Ma
, L. Y.
, 2016
, “3D Simulation of Gases Transport Under Condition of Inert Gas Injection Into Goaf
,” Heat Mass Transfer/Wärme-und Stoffübertragung
, 52
(12
), pp. 2723–2734.28.
Song
, Z. Y.
, Zhu
, H. Q.
, Tan
, B.
, Wang
, H. Y.
, and Qin
, X. F.
, 2014
, “Numerical Study on Effects of Air Leakages From Abandoned Galleries on Hill-Side Coal Fires
,” Fire Saf. J.
, 69
, pp. 99
–110
.29.
Shi
, G.
, Hu
, F.
, Wang
, D.
, and Wang
, S.
, 2014
, “ Unsteady Simulation on Distribution of Three Zones for Spontaneous Combustion in Goaf Areas
,” J. China Univ. Min. Technol.
, 43
(2
), pp. 189
–194
.30.
Wolf
, K. H.
, and Bruining
, H.
, 2007
, “Modelling the Interaction Between Underground Coal Fires and Their Roof Rocks
,” Fuel
, 86
(17–18
), pp. 2761
–2777
.31.
Karacan
, C. Ö.
, 2010
, “Prediction of Porosity and Permeability of Caved Zone in Longwall Gobs
,” Transp. Porous Media
, 82
(2
), pp. 413
–439
.32.
Wakao
, N.
, and Kaguei
, S.
, 1982
, Heat and Mass Transfer in Packed Beds
, Gordon and Breach Science Publisher
, New York
.33.
MIT-led Interdisciplinary Panel
, 2006
, The Future of Geothermal Energy-Impact of Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) on the United States in the 21st Century
, Idaho National Laboratory
, Idaho Falls, ID
.Copyright © 2018 by ASME
You do not currently have access to this content.
